This note is shared with permission by one of the students from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary who participated in last week’s group. It is an email home to friends and family to share about their experiences as participants on their mission trip to Chiapas and Tabasco.

Hello all!!!

Sorry it has been so long since our last e-mail. After lunch at the Bible school we left for San Juan Chamula - outside of San Cristobol. When we arrived we discovered that there was a festival going on. San Juan Chamula is known as a hot bed for Christian persecution. The "church" in San Juan Chamula is no church like we know it. It is a blend of the Spanish imposed Catholicism and the indigenous Mayan religion. It was a most bizarre and powerful sight!

Thousands of candles, people kneeling and bowing before them, offering the candles to the gods (?) along with - get this - bottles of Pepsi and liquor!!!?!? There were three or four families in their "praying" for their sick babies - chanting. It did not feel good for any of us in there. The Chamulas are very intolerant of anything other than "their" religion. They have persecuted, expelled, burned out, and killed many Christians. Our time in San Juan Chamula was an eye opener for all of us.

From San Juan Chamula we went to the attorney's house - a beautiful house that us was the closest thing to home we've seen in days. Hot water!!!!! There we met and heard the story of an incredible woman - a Chamula Christian who, when she was 14, was almost killed by the Chumula for being a Christian. We were all touched DEEPLY by this woman's story and the story of the persecuted Christians in Chamula.

Needless to say, this was an overwhelming day.

The next day we spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the beautiful marketplace of San Cristobol - buying all of you presents! From San Cristobol we left for Tanejape - a village like Estella de Belen but not as primitive.

We had a wonderful time worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Tanejape - and Janet preached a marvelous sermon in a very male dominated culture. After she was finished the pastor praised her sermon - even used some of it in the sermon he preached the following morning. We were all so proud of her!

As is their custom, they spread fresh pine needles out on the floor of our sleeping quarters. We slept on top of the pine needles and stayed very warm even though it was cold outside.

From Tanejape, we went to Chiapa de Corso and took an unbelievable boat ride through the Canyon de Sumidero. The river was flanked on both sides by the highest cliff walls any of us have ever seen. At the highest point the canyon wall was 1,000 meters high (approx.
3,000 ft.) and the water was 100 meters deep (approx. 300 ft. deep) We passed some incredible sights along with a lazy alligator sunning him/herself on the shore. To prove that it wasn't a fake the guide had Michael throw a rock at it to see it move. IT did!

We had a nice lunch in Chiapa de Corso and left to return to Villahermosa - approx. 4 hours on some of the steepest and most windy roads.

Tommorrow we go to the seminary in Villahermosa - across the street from where we are staying tonight - and being paired up with a seminary student with whom we will spend the next 2 and a half days (back here Sunday evening) We will go with that seminary student to their home and to the church where they work, helping them in any way we can. We are all hoping we get the students who can speak English!!!

Well, its bed time. Than you again for your love, your support, and your prayers. We are praying for you. We will write again as soon as possible.

Yours in Christ,

the Gang